Sheet separating apparatus



Aug. 11, 1931. J. SH-UTTLEWORTH ET AL 8,

I SHEET SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7,1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fizz/67250125. JM

11, J. SHUTTLEWORTH ET AL 1, 1

SHEET SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. '7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v V J Inventors. W

Patented Aug. '11, 1931 UNITED STATES PATE OFFICE JOHN SHUTTLEWORTH, OF ASHTON-ON-MERSEY, AND WILLIAM GOODIER MURPHY,

OF ALTRINC'HAM, ENGLAND}. ASSIGNORSTO LINQTYPE AND MACHINERY LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, A BRITISH COMPANY SHEET sErAnATING APPARATUS Application med November 7, 1930, Serial No. 493,948, and a. Great Britain November 15, 1929.

This invention relates to'apparatus' for separating sheets from a pile and isparticula'rly applicable for use preparatory to the feeding of the sheets to printing machines.

The invention appertains to the type of apparatus in which a rotatingcombing wheel, capable of being raised out of, and depressed into, contact with the top sheet of a pile, serves to comb that'sheet towards a presser foot" temporarily bearing on said sheet, so as to create a wave in the part of the sheet which is located between the combing wheel and the foot, to facilitate the adherence of that part of the sheet to a suction lifter. After the sheet has thus become attached to the lifter, the presser foot, which is hollow and connected to a blower, is swung rearwardly and raised from off the said sheet which latter is then raised by the lifter whereupon the presser foot is swung forwardly and downwardly on to the next succeeding sheet and delivers a blast of air between that sheet and the top sheet which is attached to the sucker.

The foregoing apparatus is generally used in multiple, there being usually provided at least two such devices, one near each rear corner of the sheets to be dealt with.

The invention has for its object to provide new or improved means whereby the part of the pile acted upon by the combing wheel, shall oppose to the combing wheel, when the latter is acting on the pile, a resistance which will ensure an improved rubbing action of the combing wheel, or, in other words, will be instrumental in presenting to said wheel a body having considerably less elasticity or resilience than has the complete pile itself.

The invention involves the use of a chiselshaped blade which is capable of being reciprocated in a plane parallel with the top surfaces of the pile and which, with its flat face uppermost, is inserted into the pile (preferably at a corner of the latter) so that it will form a substantially rigid support for the portion of the pile on to which the combing wheel is depressed.

The invention is hereinafter described with reference to one constructional form, illustrated in the accompanying drawings which represent a sheet separator of the type referred to,

Figure 1 being a side elevation showing the separator in operative position in relation to the rear edge of the pile of sheets;

Figure 2 a rear elevation of the same, and

Figure 3 a plan.

In the arrangement illustrated, the separator mechanism is carried in a bracket 1 .6.0 adjustable along a 'fixed shaft 2 extending transversely of the machine, and is operated fromja rotating shaft 3. Mounted on a sleeve 4 keyed to theshaft 3, are a cam 5 for raising and lowering the combing Wheel (8 6 anda cam 7 for raising and lowering the presser foot 8. The combing wheel 6 is mounted on the outer end of a spindle 9 journalled in a bracket 10 pivoted upon the sleeve 4, and moved angularly about such 10 sleeve by the cam 5 and spring 19 through lever arm 13 and link 14. The combing wheel 6 is rotated by a bevel wheel 12 keyed to the shaft3 and meshing with a bevel pinion 11 on the inner end of the spindle 9. The" cam 7 actuates the presser foot 8 through an arm 15 and spring 20, and in order to swing the presser foot 8 rearwardly away from the pile as it is lifted, to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure l, .189 the rod 16 carrying the presser foot is pivotally connected to the arm 15 andis provided with an upstanding slotted bracket 17, the

slot of which engages a fixed pin 18 on an extension of the bracket 1. 85

' As the before-mentioned parts are, or may be, ofknown construction, and operate in a known manner, it is deemed unnecessary to includeherein a more detailed description thereof. 1

In carryin out the present invention according to tile constructional form illustrated, the blade 21, which is to constitute,

during'the operation of the combing wheel 6, a support for that portion of the pile on to which the combing wheel 6 is depressed,

isv rectilinearly guided in a stationary bracket 22 secured to the bracket 1, and is reciprocated" by a lever arm 23 which is carried on the shaft 2 on the same we combing wheel 6 has been raised therefrom.

Immediately before the lowerin of the combing wheel 6, the presser oot 8 is brought down firmly on to the top of the pile. It will be understood that the rotation of the combing wheel towards the presser foot causes the sheets to buckle, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and while the sheets are held in this position, the suction lifter (which latter is not illustrated in the drawings) moves down and grips the top sheet. The presser foot then commences to lift, and swings backwardly clear of the pile, whereupon the sheet is lifted and the foot subsequently lowered on to the remaining sheets.

Although, in the apparatus as illustrated, the blades 21 are designed to enter and leave the pile in a direction parallel with the side edges of the latter, if desired, said blades .0 may be arranged for reciprocation in the direction of lines bisecting the angles of the corners of the sheets so that the pile will present the least possible resistance to their entrance thereinto.

85 Having described our invention, we declare that what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In apparatus for separating sheets from a pile, the combination with a combing wheel km movable into and out of contact with the top sheet of the pile and adapted to form a buckle in said sheet, of a support for the part of the pile acted upon by the combing wheel, insertable into and withdrawable from the pile in a plane parallel with the top surface thereof.

2. In apparatus for separating sheets from a pile, the combination with a combing wheel movable into and out of contact with the top sheet of the pile and adapted to form a buckle in said sheet of a chisel-shaped plate adapted to support the part of the pile acted upon by the combing wheel, insertable into and withdrawable from the pile with its flat face uppermost and in a plane par- .allel with the top surface of the pile.

3. In apparatus for separating sheets from a pile, the combination with a combing wheel movable into and out of contact with 00 the top sheet of the pile and adapted to form a buckle in said sheet of a chisel-shaped plate adapted to support the part of the pile acted upon by the combing wheel, in sertable into and withdrawable from the pile as with its fiat face uppermost and in a .plane parallel with the top surface of the pile, and means for inserting the plate rectilinearly into and withdrawing it rectilinearly from the pile in timed relationship with the movement of the combing wheel into and out of contact with the pile.

L In apparatus for separating sheets from a pile, the combination with a rotatable combing Wheel, means for moving the combmg wheel into and out of contact with the pile, a presser foot with which the combing wheel cooperates to form a buckle in the top sheet of the pile and means for moving the presser foot into and out of contact with the pile, of a rectilinearly guided plate and means for reciprocating the plate in a plane parallel with the top surface of the pile to insert it into and withdraw it from the pile in timed relationship to the movement of the combing wheel and presser foot into and out of contact with the pile. 1

In testimony whereof we have 'aiiixed our signatures hereto. I

JOHN vSHUTilLEVVORIH. WILLIAM GQODIER MURPHY. 

